Brits returns as a record-breaker

KNYSNA NEWS - Despite the Proteas losing against Australia in the ICC T20 Women's World Cup final, Knysna resident Tazmin Brits will undoubtedly return home with her head held high.

With the fifth-most runs in the tournament and a spot in the tournament's best side, Brits was in fine form.

The Proteas Women on Sunday 26 February played in South Africa's first world cup final ever (either men's or women's cricket). It was also South Africa's first final in an ICC tournament in 25 years, the last one being the 1998 ICC Champions Trophy which the Proteas Men won.

It was a truly historic moment for Brits and her teammates, and if it weren't for a heroic performance from Brits and some brilliance from Ayabonga Khaka in the semi-final, they might never have made that piece of history.

Brits bashes the Brits

Simply playing in the semi-final was history for the Proteas, as they were the first South African side to ever take part in a semi-final of an ICC tournament on South African soil.

They did however have the unenviable task of facing England, who had beaten the SA Women three times in semi-finals before.

A packed Newlands crowd on Friday 24 February was hoping for a different outcome though, and my oh my, did Tazmin Brits put on a show for the Capetonian faithful!

As they'd done the entire tournament, Brits opened the batting with Laura Wolvaardt. The two combined brilliantly once again and gave SA the perfect platform for a good innings with an opening stand of 96 before Wolvaardt fell for 53.

Brits battled on, reaching 68 before she too was dismissed with South Africa on 142-2. Courtesy of late runs from Marizanne Kapp, the Proteas reached 164-4 in their 20 overs.

Brilliant fielding

While she is by no means a bowler, Brits still had a significant contribution to make when SA took to the field to defend their total. She put on a fine fielding display taking no less than four catches, including a spectacular low one-handed catch at mid-wicket off Shabnim Ismail's bowling.

SA managed to hold on, defeating England by six runs to progress to the final. Brits was also named the player of the match in the semi-final.

Sadly Brits couldn't repeat her heroics in the final, where she only scored 10 runs but did take the important catch of Ellyse Perry.

The Aussies won the final by 19 runs, but the Proteas' heroic performance in the tournament won the hearts of many a cricket fan across the globe. She was also rewarded for her efforts with a spot in the best team of the tournament, selected alongside fellow countrywomen Laura Wolvaardt and Shabnim Ismail.

Early tournament stages

In the build-up to the T20 Women's World Cup, Brits struggled to find consistent form, only managing a top score of 38 in her last four innings prior to the start of the tournament. This poured over into her form in the early stages of the world cup and Brits was bundled over for only 12 against Sri Lanka and one against New Zealand.

In desperate need of a turnaround in fortune, Brits found her feet against the Australians, scoring a hard-fought 45 to help SA post a defendable total.

She followed this up with her sixth half-century in women's T20 internationals (WT20I), scoring 50* alongside opening partner Laura Wolvaardt in their 10-wicket win over Bangladesh to earn SA a spot in the semi-finals.

What followed was the incredible performance against England that has undoubtedly made her a household name among cricket fans worldwide.

Tazmin Brits poses for a portrait prior to the ICC Women's T20 World Cup. Photo: Jan Kruger-ICC via Getty Images